Akshaya Tritiya – A day for charity and sharing of all wealth.

Akshaya Tritiya, one of the most sacred days of the year, is the third day of the bright-half of the lunar month (Sukhla Paksha) of Vaisakha month.  This year Akshaya Tritiya falls on May 12 The word "Akshaya" means “ never diminishing”. As per the hindu faith belief, all ventures initiated on this auspicious day ensures success, sustained growth, and prosperity.
Therefore, new business ventures, and ventures involving sharing such as teaching arts (eg: music and dance) are initiated on Akshaya Tritiya. ”. Vedic smritis proclaim  that charity on this day brings multifold blessings   and therefore everyone must share what one has

According to Hindu astrology and almanac . Gudi Padva, Akshay Tritiya Dashahara (Vijaya dasami), and half day of Bali Pratipada (third day of Deepavali ; from Madhyam to Pradosh Kal).are best muhurts and every second is auspicious

We find evidence in “Bhavishyothara Purana that, performing havans, chanting mantras, observing penance, bathing in holy river, charity, offering rice for pleasing ancestors on Akshaya Tritiya, yield results that never get lost.

Brahmanandapuranam recommends worshipping, on thus day, Lord Shiva, his abode Kailash, Goddess Ganga, Bhageeratha and taking a holy bath in the river Ganga. Further performing homa (havan) to Lord Vishnu and devas is also recommended.

Fasts are kept on this day and pujas are performed. In charity, fan, rice, salt, ghee, sugar, vegetables,tamarind, fruit, clothes, are given. Vishnu is worshipped on this day. Tulsi water is sprinkled in the nearby area of the idol while performing aarti.

The following events that happened underscore the importance of Akshaya Tritiya:

1.      Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be the day when Goddess Madhura Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were married. Hence, couples who get married on this day are blessed with gracefulness and bright prospects. The effects of holy acts committed on this day are believed to continue throughout the year.

2.      In Mahabharath Lord Krishna told Yudhishtir that all kinds of charity and worships done on Akshay Tritiya never diminish. Therefore our saints and monks named it Akshay Tritiya.

3.      Hayagreevar an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of Vedas and Lord of knowledge  also took avatar on Akshay Tritiya.

4.      Annapurani, who feeds the hungry also fed Siva on this day. Siva disguised himself as a beggar (for Bikshandi) and approached Annapurani for food. Siva the lord of the Universe was begging, symbolically, for every soul to free them from pangs of samsara.

5.      According to Mahabharatha, the "Akshaya bowl" which creates unlimited food was given to the great king Yudhishtira by “Sun God” on this day.. This event happened at the Thirumanthurai temple

6.      Sage Adi Sankaracharya brought down a shower of gold gooseberries on this day by rendering “Kanakadara stotram”

7.      Veda Vyasa on this day, started dictating the epic  Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha, god of wisdom and remover of obstacles.

8.       It is also traditionally observed as the birthday of Lord Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of God Vishnu. The Puranic scriptures speak about how he reclaimed the land from the sea, that is now known as Kerala. regions.  Even today, Kerala. Goa and Konkan these regions are referred to as Parusurama Kshetra.  

9.      In Orissa on Akshay Tritiya farmers start to plough their land and commence construction of chariots for Rath Yatra.

10.   In Bengal, on the day of the Akshay Tritiiya, "HalKhata" - a ceremony to start the new audit book is performed - with the worship of Ganesha and goddess Lakshmi. Bengalis perform many rites and rituals on this day.

11.   This day is also most auspicious day for the Jat farming community. Early morning, a male member of Jat family goes to field with shovel.  All the animals and birds encountered on the way to the field indicate omen and predictions for rains and crops.

12.    Kubera, the treasurer of the Devas, is the richest deva. Lakshmi Tantram says that even Kubera will pray to Goddess Lakshmi,  on Akshya Tritya  day. So, on this day Lakshmi Puja is performed in which an image of Lakshmi is worshipped along with Sudarsana Kubera Yantra, symbolizing Kubera. Mythologically speaking, Kubera, received his wealth on this day from Siva. It is on this day Lord Siva blessed Goddess Lakshmi with wealth. In fact Lord Siva made Kubera as Lord of wealth and Lakshmi as Goddess of wealth

13.   Positive vibrations of lord Brahmaji and SriVishnu entered into the Earth from Paradise. So the purity of the Earth is enhanced by 10 percent on Akshaya Tritiya. So prayer on Akshaya Tritiya is answered immediately. The charity of the day never diminishes. Due to the impact of fast on Akshaya Tritiya virtues of a man increases in multiple folds. 

14.    Badrinath Temple doors open on this day.

15.   Mahadev, a poor trader, was a theist, virtuous and pious man was ignored by his wife and relatives. He was also suffering from diseases due to his old age. But he was not deterred from his dharma and charity. He on Akshaya Tritiya day followed the procedure of the fast. He took holy dip in the Ganga followed by offering to forefathers and deities. He also donated laddus of coconut, wheat, barley, watch, kalash, hand-fan, umbrella, rice, lentils, salt, Ghee, sugar, clothes, vegetables, tamarind, fruits, sattu, cucumber, watermelon and alms. And due to the impact of his fast he became the king of Kushavati Nagari. This story was narrated by Shri Krishna to King Yudishtra and further said “Dear King! Akshaya Tritiya is a very sacred date. One who bathe before afternoon, and do jap, tap, havan, pitru-tarpan and charity topoor and children on this day get imperishable virtues”.

There is temple in a place called Arasar Koil. About 70 KMS from Chennai (15 kms from Chengalpet in Tamil Nadu). It is here that Lord Ganesha gifted the Gold Akshaya bowl Garuda. He is known as “Akshaya Patra Vinayaka”. Garuda worshiped Lakshmi who reside in this temple as Sundara Maha Lakshmi. Garuda while worshiping Lord Surya Narayana (the Sun God) offered food to the deity in this golden

Akshaya bowl. All the above incidences happened in Arasar Koil temple only in the previous Yugas,

In this temple, Lord Ganesha is in front of Goddess Mahalakshmi's Sanctum and is known as Akshaya Vinayakar. He is also known as Sri Lakshmi Ganapathy. Since it was Lord Siva who on this day bestowed Kubera as the Lord and Lakshmi as the Goddess of wealth, worshiping Lord Siva on this day and chanting the mantra, “Om Namah Sivaaya” will bring in abundance and prosperity in one’s life.

We must positively understand that feeding the poor is the most important charitable act. Donating clothes, foot wares (sandals), caps, umbrellas, books, stationery for poor children are highly recommended. Poojas and charity acts will yield good results on this special 3rd moon day.

Buying of Gold and Jewelry items is certainly not listed in the Vedic scripts. Sadly purity, piety dharmic acts have been commercialized.

Certainly  Akshaya Tritiya day is not a day for investing in Gold.